AMC Agrees To Show Netflix Documentaries Nominated For Awards

AMC Theaters has agreed to show select Netflix documentaries as part of the Academy’s “Oscars® Spotlight: Documentaries” screening initiative for shortlisted titles. “American Factory”, “The Edge of Democracy”, “The Great Hack” and “Knock Down the House” have begun screening at ten different AMC locations and beginning December 25 and have showtimes scheduled all the way through January 6.

This isn’t the first time a Netflix documentary has been shown at an AMC: “Shirkers” was shown part of last year’s Oscars Spotlight at three of the chain’s locations.

The behavior remains unusual, as AMC has refused to show previous Netflix titles which were not in-line with the traditional 3-month distribution window between a theatrical and home video release followed by other studios. As an example, last year’s “Roma” was not shown at AMC, Regal or Cinemark locations despite being shortlisted for awards.

Other locations to show the shortlisted docs include select Landmark, Laemmle and Alamo multiplexes, as well as some independent moviehouses. The complete list can be found below.

It’s unclear whether other upcoming “Oscars: Spotlight” series, such as those for features, will also be welcomed by AMC. This would potentially include Best Picture nominees such as The Irishman or Marriage Stories, both titles AMC refused to show during their original runs.

“I don’t understand why the theater chains don’t agree to a shorter window, when in reality most films do not play that long, with some titles only staying in theaters for a week or two. Especially specialty titles and documentaries,” said Gregory Hemming, an AMC A-List subscriber from Florida.